Pipe-coupling for railway-cars.



No. 741,050. Y PATENTED 00113, 190s.

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PIPE UOUILING FOR'RAILWAY GARS. APPLIUATION PILE rms. 25, 1899. lxmmwxm rm. 1 0, 190s.

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G... MAHON. PIPE GQUPLING FR RAILWAY GARS.

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No. 741,050. I PATENTBD OCT. 13,1903.

C. MAHON.

PIPE GOUPLING FOR RAILWAY GARS. y

APPLIGATIGN FILED F12-B. 25, 1899. EENBWED FEB. 10, 1803.

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N0 MODEL A TTOHNEY Unirse STATES CHARLES MAI-ION,` WASHINGTON,

Fatemi-:ed October 13, 1903.

'PATENT Fries.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR,

BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MINNA LFGAR MAHON AND THEOPHILUS E. ROESSLE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PIPE-COUPLING FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,050, dated October 13, 1903. Application filed February 25, 1899. Renewed February l0, 1903. Serial No. l42,80l. (lilo modei fluid for operating the lbrakes or steam or. hot water for heating or other purposes, has

i for its object the automatic coupling and uncoupling of such pipes and automatically opening and closing the valves in the service-l pipes to which the couplings are attached, and consists in certain improvements in conzo struction for edecting these objects and maintaining metallic contact in the coupling, as

will be fully disclosed in the following speciication and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which f rm a part of this specification, Figure l represents atop plan view, partly in section, of

the coupling, the carriage, and the bed detachedfrom a car; Fig. 2, a vertical longitu-A dinal section of one section of the coupling;

3o Fig. 3, a perspectivel of the check-valve for the-air-chamber, Fig. 4, a side elevation showing two cars'connected; Fig. 5, an end View of a car provided with my invention;

Fig. 6, a like View on an enlargedvscale; Fig.

7, a top plan view'of a modication of the coupling, and Fig. S a rear end view of the saine.

Reference being hadY to the drawings and the letters thereon, A indicates the bell- 40 mouthed member of each section of the coupling,which is provided with a right-angled annular iiange a, provided with an internal screw-thread Z), by which it is secured to the outer end of 'the air-chamber B, and

the conical wall of said' section extends into the air-chamber, as shown at c, to protect the interior of the packing against abrasion by the male member entering the packing, and

to clamp and secure the tubular frusto-con- 5o ical packing-ring C in position. The outer end of this ring is enlarged and rests in a seat c, extends into the air-chamber, out of Contact therewith, and is distended at its inner end d to preventits' being drawn inward as the male member D of the coupling is '55 withdrawn from the female member E in uncoupling, and the bearing of the packing-ring upon the member D is intermediate its ends,

to admit of free flexure of the coupling.

To the inner end of the air-chamber is at- 6o tached a valvechamber F, provided with a check-valve e, supported upon a horizontal rod f, which is held in position by guide-spiders g g, and at its outer end is a smaller spider h, which is struck by the inner end of the tubular male member D and pushed back off its seat as the coupling-joint is made, and when the joint is uncoupled the air in the valve-chamber from the train-pipe closes the valve automatically.A 7o

From the valve-chamber extends laterally a pipe t', to which is connected ata right angle a pipe 7c, which extends forward in the horizontal plane'of the valve-chamber F and is provided with avalve G, the outer end of the case of which is 'held in metallic contact with the inner end of the bell mouth, as shown at Z, for a purpose which will hereinafter more fully appear, and tothe outer end of the valvecase is attached the male member D of 8o the coupling. This member is preferably made 'slightly taperingv and. coated with enamel to facilitate its passage through the packing-ring C and to` protect it against corrosion.

The packing-ring is made of soft rubber and is capable of sucient flexure to accommodate itself to the tlexure 'of the car in roundingcurvesin the road-bed and is pressed tightly around the memberD by the air un- 9o der pressure of from sixty-,live to seventy pounds operating upon the concave surface 'm of the ring.

The valve may be of the turning-plug variety, and its lever n is so set that itis struck o5 by the wall of the bell-mouthed memberAas the male member enters it and the valve opened automatically and communication opened with the train service-pipe l-I through pipes h' and i, and when the member D is roo withdrawn the valve is closed automatically by a spring o. (Shown in Fig. G.)

p Each section of the coupling issupported upon a horizontal carriage I, which is provided with trunnions p q, the latter being detachably secured to a lug r by a nut s to admit of its being inserted in a horizontalslot in one of the sides u of the bed K, while the trunnion p is permanently joined or secured to lug fr' and engages slot /U in the opposite side w. These trunnions and slots admit of longitudinal movement and vertical oscillation of the carriage and the section of coupling attached thereto. The carriage is also provided with a vertical pin extending downward from the under side of the carriage and engaging a longitudinal slot @j in the bottom z of the bed and insures systematical lateral movement of the carriage and the coupling. These several movements are required to effect coupling by allowing for variations in alinements of the couplings due to causes well known to railroad men.

The longitudinal movement performs a very important function in my invention, as the sections of the couplings are normally in such position that when the joint is made each section has been pushed back with its carriage about three inches against the tension of the springs a a', which are connected to the rear end of the carriage I, as by a post b', and to the sides u and w of the bed at an angle, so as to maintain a constant pressure upon the carriage and consequent constant metallic contact between the outer end ofthe valve-case and the bell-mouthed member, so that the couplings of the train service-pipe may be used as a conductor of electricity throughout the train for signaling purposes by connecting the sections at each end of a car by a wire c', the sections being insulated at d e'. (Shown in Figs. 2, 6, and S.)

The carriage I rests upon rollers ff' and travels freely on the bed 'K, which is supported in stirrups g g', attached to the body of the ca r in any convenient and suitable position.

From the pipe 7c extends a branch h', to which is attached a section of rubber pipe or tubing t", which is joined to alike section 7c', attached to the train servicepipe II, and the two sections e" and 7c are connected by an ordinary pipe-coupling L in common use on pipes on railway-cars. By this connection air from the train-pipe ows through the coupled members of the pipe, and in the event that a car is put in a train provided with the prevailing type of hand-couplings the coupling L is disconnected and the section 7c joined to the train-pipe of the car in the usual manner. The same connection of the pipe H with the branch h is made at both ends of a car.

In Figs. '7 and 8 I have shown a construction in which a valve E2 is connected to the pipe z' by an elbow a2, and from the valve extends a pipe b2, to which the rubber section z" is attached. The lever ciof the valve E2 is provided with a slot d2, which engages a pin e2 on the side u of the bed K. It is obvious that other connections between the valve and the bed may be made as circumstances may require. By this construction the valvechamber F, the check-valve e, and the valve Gin the male member D (shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3) are dispensed with, and the valve E2 is opened automatically by the movement of the coupling and the carriage I on the bed K while the carriage is being pushed back against the tension of the springs a at and closed as the coupling is separated and the carriage projected forward by the tension of the springs.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim isl. A pipe-coupling, in combination with a horizontal bed, and a horizontal carriage above the bed supporting the coupling having trunnions engaging the bed and provided with rollers between the bottom of the carriage and the bed for effecting lateral, longitudinal, and vertical oscillatory movement of the carriage and the coupling.

2. A pipe-coupling, in combination with a horizontal bed, a horizontal carriage above the bed supporting the coupling, having trunnions engaging the bed, and longitudinally movable on the bed upon rollers between the bottom of the carriage and the bed, and means for applying tension to the carriage.

3. A pipe-coupling, in combination with a horizontal bed, and a longitudinally-movable horizontal carriage above the bed supporting the coupling and provided with laterally-extending tru nnions,rollers between the bottom of the carriage and the bed, and a vertical pin engaging said bed.

4. A pipe-coupling, in combination with a horizontal bed,a longitudinally-movable horizontal carriage above the bed supporting the coupling and provided with laterally-extend- IIO ing trunnions, rollers between the bottom of the carriage and the bed, a vertical pin engaging said bed and springs connected on opposite sides of the carriage to the bed.

5. A pipe-coupling, in combination with a bed having vertical sides slotted horizontally and a longitudinally-slotted bottom,and a carriage supporting` the coupling and provided with laterally-extending trunnions engaging the horizontal slots, and avertical pin engaging the longitudinal slot.

6. A pipe-coupling, in combination with a bed having vertical sides slotted horizontally and a longitudinally-slotted bottom a carriage supporting the coupling and provided with laterally-extending trunnions engaging the horizontal slots and a vertical pin engaging the longitudinal slot, and springs engaging the rear end of the carriage and the sides of the bed.

7. A pipe-coupling, in combination with a bed, a carriage supporting the coupling and supported on said bed by rollers, laterallyextending trunnions, a vertical pin, horizontal and longitudinal slots, and springs connecting the carriage to the bed.

8. A packing forantomatic pipe-couplings consisting of a tubular truste-conical and iiexible ring having an enlarged portion at one end whereby it is supported, distended at its opposite end, a bearing-surface intermediate its ends, and a concave outer su rface.

9. A pipe-coupling provided with a section having an air-chamber, and a tubular llexible packing-ring extending into said chamber and outof contact therewith; in combination with chamber out of contact therewith; in combination with a daring-mouthed member provided with a conical wall engaging the inner surface of the packing-ring.

12. A pipe-coupling provided with asection having an air-chamber, and a tubular and flexible packing-ring distended at both of its ends and extending into said chamber out of contact therewith; in combination with a daring-mouthed member provided with a con-- ical wall engaging the inner surface of the packing-ring and at the outerendthereof.

13. A pipe-coupling having an air-chamber, a separable daring mouthpiece provided with .a conical wall and attached thereto, and,

a tubular packing-ring engaged by the conical Wall of the mouthpiece and extending into the air-chamber out of contact therewith, and a tubular member extending in the..4

horizontal plane of said air-chamber.

14. A pipe-coupling having an air-chamber, a separable flaring mouthpiece provided with a conical wall and attached thereto, a tubular packing-ring engaged by the conical Wall of the mouthpiece and extending into the air-chamber out of contact therewith, a check-valve controlling one end of said chamber, a pipe connected with said chamber, and

a tubular member connected to said pipe extending parallel with said chamber.

15. A pipe-coupling, consisting of two sections, each having a Haring-mouthed mem-l ber provided with a conical Wall, and an airchamber, a tubular packing-ring engaged-by the conical wall of the mouthpiece and extending into said chamber andout of contact therewith, a check-valve supported upon a horizontal rod and controlling one end of said chamber, and a tubular member extending into the air-chamber of the adjacent section and surrounded by the packing.

16. A pi pee-coupling, consisting of two sections, each having a male and a female member, the latter provided with a mouthpiece having a conical wall, an air-chamber, a tubular packing-ring engaged by the conical wall of the mouthpiece of the female member and extending into said chamber and out of contact therewith, and a supply-valve operated automatically by coupling and uncoupling the two sections.

17. A pipe-coupling consisting of' two sections, longitudinally and laterally movable carriages on-which the sections are mounted, beds supporting the carriages, trunnions en the carriages engaging the beds, and rollers interposed between the bottom of the carriages'and the beds; in combination with supply-valves operated automatically in coupling and uncoupling the sections.

18. A pipe-coupling consisting of two sections, longitudinally and laterally movable carriages on which the sections are mounted, ixed horizontal beds supporting the carriages, and trunnions on the carriages engaging the beds; 'in combination with supply-valves supported by the carriages, and connections between the valves and the beds for operating the valves by the movement of the carriages on the beds in coupling and uncoupling.

19. A packing for automatic pipe -couplings, consisting of a tubular frusto-conical and flexible ring, provided with means at one end for supporting the ring, a concavo-convex wall and a distende'd opposite end.

' 20. A pipe-coupling provided with a section having an air-chamber provided with a seat at its outer end, and a tubular iexible packing-ring engaging said seat at one end, extending into the chamber and out of contact therewith, in combination with a flaring mouthpiece provided with a conical wall, the latter engaging the innersurface of said packing-ring.

21. A packing for automatic pipe -couplings, consisting of a tubular truste-conical and iiexible ring provided with means at one end for supporting the ring, a bearing-surface intermediate its ends, and a distended opposite end.

22. lA pipe-coupling provided with asection having an air-chamber provided with a seat at its outer end, and atubular ilexible packing-ring engaging said seat at one end, extending into the chamber and out of contact therewith; in combination with a flaring mouthpiece provided with a right angled ilange, and a conical wall, the latter engaging the inner surface ot' said packing-ring.

23. The combination with a bed having vertical sides slotted horizontally, a carriage provided with trunnions engaging the horizontal slots, of a coupling-section mounted on the carriage, said coupling-section including a chamber provided with a flaring mouthpiece IOO IIO

IZO

and frusto-conical packing-ring constituting a female member and also provided with a male member, means for supplying fluidpressure to said two members and automatic means for controlling such supply, substantially as described.

24. The combination with a bed having vertical sides slotted horizontally, a carriage provided with trunnions engaging.,T the horizontal slots, of a coupling-section mounted on the carriage comprising male and female members connected with a source of Iiuidpressure supply, a Haring mouthpiece on the female member and a turn-valve on the male member adapted to be operated by engagement with a female member, substantially as described.

25. The combination with a bed having vertical sides slotted horizontally, a carriage provided with trunnions engaging the horizontal slots, springs normally holding the carriage in a forward position parallel with the sides l of the bed, of a coupling-section mounted on the carriage comprising male and female members connected withv a source of fluidpressure supply, a flaring mouthpiece in the female member and a turn-valve on the male member adapted to be operated by engagem'ent with a female member, substantially as described.

26. In a pipe-coupling for oars, the combination of a horizontal support, a carriage located wholly above the support, couplings on the carriage, autifrietion devices between the bottom of the carriage and Athe support, and, means for applying tension to the carriage, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES MAHON.

Witnesses:

D. C. REINOHL, W. P. REINoHL. 

